Energize the Future with Waves

The ocean is an abundant source of renewable energy, including incredibly dense wave energy. Hann-Ocean’s state of the art wave energy converter (WEC), “Drakoo” is capable of generating cost-efficient electricity from waves of all possible scales. The device has been developed and tested extensively in sea trials as well as in large scale wave flumes over a horizon of ten years and its performance has been independently verified by NAREC, UK (now part of ORE catapult). In June 2018, tests were witnessed by DNV GL, who will be endorsing the test methodology and Drakoo’s performance.

The ocean is an abundant source of renewable energy, including incredibly dense wave energy. Hann-Ocean’s state of the art wave energy converter (WEC), “Drakoo” is capable of generating cost-efficient electricity from waves of all possible scales. The device has been developed and tested extensively in sea trials as well as in large scale wave flumes over a horizon of ten years and its performance has been independently verified by NAREC, UK (now part of ORE catapult). In June 2018, tests were witnessed by DNV GL, who will be endorsing the test methodology and Drakoo’s performance.

In 2008, Henry Han Lei, the founder of Hann-Ocean Group, invented a twin-chamber oscillating water column type wave energy converter (WEC). The unique technology employed within the WEC was named “Drakoo” and the company formally began its R&D journey. Hann-Ocean’s first commercial pilot project was executed in 2013, with the supply of a 16kWp array to SembCorp Marine in Singapore. In 2016, a 10kWp model was developed which reached its peak potential in 2017. June 2018 saw the birth of Drakoo’s 15kWp WEC, whose tests were witnessed by DNV GL, the maritime classification authority who will also endorse the test methodology and the device’s performance. Drakoo is easily the most efficient and diversified WEC technology to date and is poised to raise the bar for measuring wave energy’s contribution to the global demand for clean energy.

Why Wave Energy

Ocean waves are the greatest unexploited renewable energy resource on the planet which could alleviate our reliance on fossil fuels. Its potential becomes apparent when one compares the density of wave energy to that of solar and wind energy. Depending on location, it is about ten times denser than wind energy and about one hundred times denser than solar energy. In addition to being easier to forecast than both its renewable energy compatriots, waves can also be harnessed 24/7.

Ocean waves are the greatest unexploited renewable energy resource on the planet which could alleviate our reliance on fossil fuels. Its potential becomes apparent when one compares the density of wave energy to that of solar and wind energy. Depending on location, it is about ten times denser than wind energy and about one hundred times denser than solar energy. In addition to being easier to forecast than both its renewable energy compatriots, waves can also be harnessed 24/7.

With predictions of future energy supply tending towards a mix of multiple types of clean sources, a framework is now available within which wave energy’s monumental potential can be realized. For instance, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has predicted that wave energy could supply 11% of Australia’s total demand by 2050. This comes on the heels of the Australian government’s decision to obtain 20% of the total demand from clean energy sources by the same year. Given the density of wave power around Australia’s coasts, it would mean utilizing as little as 150 km of coastline to generate the entire target of 20% using waves alone. These predictions have been corroborated in substance by other reputable agencies such as The International Energy Agency, which estimates that the global wave energy potential is between 8,000 and 80,000 TWh per year with typical available power values ranging between 10kW and 60kW per meter along the coasts.

Currently, ocean waves are not a significant contributor to the global production of clean energy from various sources. Although multiple concepts exist, most of them suffer from relatively low efficiency or poor reliability or a combination of any number of such deficiencies which have been largely eliminated in more mature renewable technologies such as wind and solar energy. However the density, predictability, persistence and wide spread availability of waves has attracted worldwide attention and efforts are being made to arrive at a technological breakthrough to enable efficient harvesting of this valuable resource. Hann-Ocean realized this potential a decade ago and has since perfected its craft. In what is a nascent industry, Hann-Ocean’s Drakoo is already a mature technology when compared to its competitors’ products.

Three key factors making the wave energy attractive and feasible:

1.

Wave energy flux in terms of kW/m represents the annual average wave power density for a specific sea location. The higher the wave energy flux, the denser the energy in that region. Limits for usable electricity from waves are typically defined by the demands of coastal communities, with the added caveat that power production be located in a close proximity to the end consumer to reduce transmissions losses and costs. Drakoo WEC is remarkably well suited to cater to such constraints and can easily be deployed along shorelines.

2.

Several island nations (such as the Pacific isles) pay a premium on fuel imports to meet their energy demands. This is further exacerbated by the remoteness of their location which increases transportation costs. On a smaller scale, this is analogous to coastal communities which may not have ready access to grid supply or offshore platforms which rely on diesel generators. We firmly believe that Drakoo’s versatility could be of immense benefit in these situations.

3.

Political factors heavily influence return on investments in clean energy projects. In response to climate change, governments worldwide have established incentives such as grants and feed-in tariffs for renewable energy development.

At Han-Ocean, we evaluate local statistics such as wave height, wave period, seasonal distribution, directional probabilities and tidal changes ahead of undertaking any project. The economics of the situation are also carefully studied with particular attention paid to demand, cost of electricity and government incentives before identifying the site which holds the greatest promise for wave energy generation. Utilizing our unique methodology and proprietary software, we can deliver an optimally configured Drakoo WEC system to ensure the best returns.

Highly-denseSustainable

Predictable24/7

Drakoo - the Ultimate Wave Energy Converter

The internationally patented Drakoo wave energy converter can absorb, transform and convert wave energy into electricity while reducing reflective waves in the ocean. Bearing a simple design philosophy and built for easy optimization, Drakoo is capable of producing cost-efficient electricity from waves of all possible scales. It is also incredibly versatile and can be deployed along shorelines, in shallow waters or in deep seas.

The key advantages of Drakoo WEC can be highlighted using a simple acronym – “ESSV”:

Efficiency

Simplicity

Scalability

Versatility

Drakoo is the most efficient wave energy converter ever devised. One-way flow checkerboard valves regulate waves into a twin-chamber, oscillating water column. Here, a Kaplan turbine coupled directly to a permanent magnetic generator converts hydraulic energy to electrical energy. This simple yet powerful system has proven itself many times over - in a 1kWp prototype tested independently by NAREC, UK, a 10kWp model tested at Hann-Ocean’s premises in China and a 15kWp model tested with DNV GL as the witness.

Drakoo is unique due to the simplicity of the energy conversion process and the minimal number of moving parts below the water, including the flexible one-way flow checkerboard valves, and the Kaplan turbine. This simplicity results in low construction cost, low cost of electricity produced and ease of maintenance.

Drakoo can be configured for any wave conditions to produce electricity (from 0.3m up to 5m waves). Its power output can be in the range of 100W (for a single unit) to a few MW (for a large array). Our practical choice of Drakoo array capacity is optimied for life-cycle cost-effectiveness based on the wave statistics and the demand for annual average power of the selected site.

Drakoo has multiple applications in both fixed and floating mode. It can be deployed in shallow or deep waters to supply power to isolated islands. It can also be integrated with breakwaters, floating architectures, or O&G platforms to provide baseload power to the grid. The Drakoo can be easily customized for whatever situation the end user requires.